DNP Develops Plant-Based Barrier Film for Packaging Materials

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) has developed transparent barrier film*
for packaging materials using plant-based materials. By bonding this newly developed
barrier film with plant-based polyethylene film also developed by DNP, it is
possible to process these films into packaging materials with superior barrier
characteristics against moisture and oxygen, while also reducing CO2 emitted
during incineration, following disposal, by a maximum of 50 percent. Mass production
will commence in September, 2011.

[Background]

DNP actively promotes the commercialization of sustainable and bio-diversity
friendly packaging materials. As part of those endeavors, in May the Company
launched mass production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film using plant-based
materials, which has earned a high reputation, including a winning a prize at
the Japan Packaging Contest 2011.

DNP has gone one step further, to develop a new product, applying a barrier
function to PET film, via a transparent vapor-deposit, that reduces the transmission
of moisture and oxygen. This marks the first Japanese domestic example of the
development of a plant-based transparent barrier film, and shipment of trial
versions to domestic companies has already begun with a view to shifting to
mass-production.

A decision has also been made to adopt the previously developed plant-based
polyethylene (PE) film used in the inner layer of the packaging materials. As
a result, DNP has completed its line up of plant-based film for the important
plastic film that forms the packaging materials in soft packaging, and it has
now become possible to use this material with packaging materials that require
superior barrier attributes, including foods, pharmaceuticals and manufactured
products. .

[Overview of DNP Plant-Based Films for Packaging Materials]

The Series is a set of products that maintain similar properties and processing
suitability as petroleum-based film, while achieving reductions in petroleum
usage through the partial switching out of petroleum-derived raw materials for
plant-based raw materials.

In addition to reducing petroleum usage by a maximum of 50 percent, the packaging
materials manufactured by combining the film in this series also cut CO2 emitted
during incineration by a maximum of 50 percent. Generally speaking, plant-based
film is expensive compared to petroleum-based film, but packaging materials
using the Series successfully rein in manufacturing cost premiums to 20 percent
-30 percent.

PET film: The film used in the printed layer that is the upper most
layer of the packaging materials. The ethylene glycol that accounts for
approximately 30 percent of materials has been switched from petroleum-based
sources to sugar-cane derived bio-ethanol, cutting petroleum usage by about
30 percent as a result.

Barrier film: A newly developed product, which is a film maintaining
high barrier qualities used in the intermediate layers of packaging materials.
Using uniquely developed DNP transparent vapor-deposit technology to configure
a transparent film (the barrier layer) on the surface, this prevents the
deterioration of the contents due to moisture or oxygen.

PE film: A film used in the inner layer of packaging materials. Uses
sugar-cane derived PE to reduce petroleum usage by approximately 50 percent
- 60 percent compared to petroleum-based products. This film increases sealing
characteristics, strength and texture.

[Major Uses of the DNP Plant-Based Films for Packaging Materials]

The Series targets a broad variety of areas, including foods, sweets, toiletries,
pharmaceuticals and industrial products.

[Future Undertakings]

DNP plans to sequentially switch-out the packaging materials at present supplied
to the makers of food, drink, and daily goods to the plant-based series. As
there is also high interest from overseas makers, DNP will also aggressively
promote expansion to overseas markets. In the future, in addition to continuing
efforts designed to achieve cost reductions to bring prices into line with those
for petroleum-based film, the Company also plans to expand to paper containers
and molded products, promoting the spread of the plant-based products.

DNP is making multilateral efforts to reduce eco-burdens, and in addition
to staying abreast of CO2 emissions during the entire product lifecycle, is
also engaged in joint research with Norihiro Itsubo, Associate Professor in
the Faculty of Environmental and Information Studies at Tokyo City University
into the field that researches the impact on the ecosystem of the cultivation
of the sugarcane that is the raw materials. In addition to applying the results
of this research to product development, DNP will also become actively involved
in the quantification of the impact on the eco-system.

The Company forecasts sales of 20 billion yen in the year ending March 31,
2016 from packaging materials using the DNP plant-based films.

* DNP Transparent Barrier Film

Since 1988, DNP has offered barrier film that boosts barrier characteristics
by configuring a transparent vapor-deposit layer on the surface of the film
using the Company?s unique vapor-deposition technology. As a result of a feature
allowing for the contents to be seen, the Product has seen broad use in packaging
for liquids and retort products as a substitute for aluminum foil.

* Product price, specification and service content listed in this news
release are current on the date of the announcement. This data may change
without notice. We apologize for any inconvenience.